The Quidditch Final

           "Hesentmethis,"Hermionesaid,holdingouttheletter.

           Harrytookit.Theparchmentwasdamp,andenormousteardropshadsmudgedtheinksobadlyinplacesthatitwasverydifficulttoread.

           DearHermione,

           Welost.

           I’mallowedtobringhimbacktoHogwarts.Executiondatetobefixed.

           BeakyhasenjoyedLondon.

           Iwon’tforgetallthehelpyougaveus.

           Hagrid

           "Theycan’tdothis,"saidHarry."Theycan’t.Buckbeakisn’tdangerous."

           "Malfoy’sdad’sfrightenedtheCommitteeintoit,"saidHermione,wipinghereyes."Youknowwhathe’slike.They’reabunchofdodderyoldfools,andtheywerescared.There’llbeanappeal,though,therealwaysis.OnlyIcan’tseeanyhope...Nothingwillhavechanged."

           "Yeah,itwill,"saidRonfiercely."Youwon’thavetodoalltheworkalonethistime,Hermione.I’llhelp."

           "Oh,Ron!"

           HermioneflungherarmsaroundRon’sneckandbrokedowncompletely.Ron,lookingquiteterrified,pattedherveryawkwardlyonthetopofthehead.Finally,Hermionedrewaway.

           "Ron,I’mreally,reallysorryaboutScabbers..."shesobbed.

           "Oh—well—hewasold,"saidRon,lookingthoroughlyrelievedthatshehadletgoofhim."Andhewasabituseless.Youneverknow,MumandDadmightgetmeanowlnow."

           ThesafetymeasuresimposedonthestudentssinceBlack’ssecondbreak-inmadeitimpossibleforHarry,Ron,andHermionetogoandvisitHagridintheevenings.TheironlychanceoftalkingtohimwasduringCareofMagicalCreatureslessons.

           Heseemednumbwithshockattheverdict.

           "S’allmyfault.